Curfew in Kashmir Valley after Afzal Guru's execution

A policeman patrols a deserted road during restriction in Srinagar after Afzal Guru was hanged for plotting the 2001 Parliament attack. Reuters/Danish Ismail

Curfew has been imposed in the Kashmir valley following hanging of the Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru in Delhi's Tihar jail on Saturday.

The news of hanging has created a sence of unease in the state's summer capital Srinagar. Curfew has been imposed in all major towns in the valley.

According to reports the national highway has also been closed.

Heavy deplyoment of paramilitary forces can be seen most parts of the Valley, mostly in sensitive areas like the old city in Srinagar as well as Sopore which is the hometown of Guru.

According to senior police officials, curfew has been imposed following apprehensions of violence after the news of the hanging come out.

However, there is no information of violation of the restriction orders from any part of the state including Sopore.

Sources say, the state machinery was informed about the execution late on Friday night.

People, however, came to know about the restrictions after announcements were made in local mosques as they gathered for morning prayers.

The state chief minister Omar Abdullah, who was in New Delhi was according to sources, was also informed about the developments on Friday night.

Abdullah had previously made his opposition to the hanging of Guru public. In his interviews with various media organisations the chief minister has expressed apprehension that the hanging might have severe repercussions in the valley.

Guru who belonged to Sopore area of Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir, was on death row since 2003 when Supreme Court of India had convicted him of the charges.

Guru's wife Tabasum had appealed for clemency for him, claiming that there was no 'direct evidence' linking him to the Parliament attack in 2001.

Guru, according to the Delhi Police, was a Jaish-e-Mohammad militant convicted of December 2001 attack on Parliament.

Various human rights groups, including political groups in Kashmir like the main opposition People's Democratic Party, which believes that Afzal Guru did not get a fair trial.

Human rights activists in various parts of the country have also demanded reprieve as they believe that the trial was flawed. The activists include prominent names like Arundhati Roy and Praful Bidwai.

Guru who belonged to a middle class family in Kashmir's apple town Sopore had completed the first year MBBS was preparing for IAS exams when he was arrested for being providing logistic support to the 'fidayeens' in New Delhi

The appeals for his clemency could be heard again after hanging of Pakistani national Ajmal Kasab who was hanged for his role in the Mumbai attack.

However, no political party has given any formal reaction to the hanging. Meanwhile Hurriyat conference, Geelani group, has call for a three day strike on the issue.